Tiny houses seem to be popping up all over the world these days as global citizens trade in old school dreams of sprawling suburban estates for simpler spaces that sit gently on the earth. While here at Inhabitat we've seen plenty of one-of-a-kind, custom made micro homes we love, we're also gung-ho for the idea of packaging the concept as a kit of parts that can be joined to create a home (kind of like LEGO). A maker of tiny prefab homes, Alchemy Architects is one designer/builder that wants to bring small scale, sustainable living to everyone with a taste for tiny homes. Check out our gallery to see some of their best weeHouse micro designs.

Alchemy Architects’ weeHouses are constructed as pre-built modules framed with steel and wood. They can be built in as little as six to nine months and take some serious abuse from nature. The architects have constructed these unassuming tiny homes for 130mph oceanside wind zones, special fire zones, seismic zone four earthquake sites, and 60 psf snow loads. These beauties are suited for just about any landscapes and have found fans (and permanent sites) in places as diverse as the Oregon coast, the Rocky Mountains, Southern California, and Minnesota.

As sustainable as they are stunning, many of the latest designs also ramp up their green cred by employing solar power, green roofs, passive cooling/heating, wind power, rainwater collection, hydronic infloor heat, and geothermal heat—though implementation ultimately depends on what’s appropriate for the program and site. “Not-so-weeHouses,” can also be built to suit and expanded for families with need for more space—a process that simply involves stacking or joining additional module units.

So how much will a weeHouse cost you? The architects say that prices run at approximately 10-15 percent less than that of a conventionally built home of the same size, including design fees. You can learn more about the process here.

One thought on “Alchemy Architects Build Tiny Prefab weeHouses that Connect with Nature”

I really believe no building should call itself completely green if its basic design kills birds. Opposing clear glass windows and walls are a killing field because it appears to birds as if they can fly through. Now, after the fact the owner needs to make an effort to prevent bird strikes. But of course they won't because it may slightly affect their view and the look of the house. Too bad. http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/collisions/glass.html